The Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series is a professional iron man and iron women racing series, born out of surf live saving. The series has over the years taken place over various locations, including:
The current series champions from the 2019/20 season are Kendrick Louis of Manly and Lana Rogers of Noosa Heads.
History
Professional ironman racing was born out of the movie The Coolangatta Gold which featured multiple Australian Ironman champion Grant Kenny and was won by Guy Leech. With significant media attention beginning to grow, Surf Life Saving Australia established the ‘Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Grand Prix’ in 1986. The aim of the series was to generate a high public profile and showcase for the sport, the athletes and the surf life saving movement. Over the years the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series has evolved, testing and challenging athletes through different formats and styles of racing. While the Series has continued to evolve with varying formats, competitors and venues, one key element of Ironman and Ironwoman racing has remained – the surf. The Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series puts Australia's top multi-discipline athletes through their paces, forcing them to take on the best and worst mother nature has to throw at them. For almost 30 years, Kellogg's have partnered with Surf Life Saving Australia to deliver this sporting event that has not only produced some of Australia's finest and fittest athletes, but has also helped drive membership for Surf Life Saving. The Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series and Ironwoman Series has grown to become the world's elite surf sports competition and one of summer's most iconic events – where only the best of the best have their chance to claim the prize pool, the glory and the prestige of being the crowned the Series Champion. It is survival of the fittest.
Formats
The Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series is contested over a various race formats which help to create an even playing field for the competitors.
Loop Format
Description: A continuous race over a conventional Ironman course, swim, board, ski and run. Each 'Loop' consists of one lap of each discipline. A race may consist of three Loops for men and two loops for women, depending on conditions and the course. The order of the disciplines in the race will vary depending on the event.
Eliminator
Description: An exciting three race format, where the last five finishers are knocked out and don't compete in the next race. Each race is a traditional race, on a shorter course, over the three disciplines. E.g. Race 1: 16 Competitors, 5 eliminated. Race 2: 11 Competitors, 5 eliminated. Race 3: Final 6 competitors. Points are awarded to all competitors in the finishing order.
M-Shape
Description: A continuous race over a modified course, where the competitors round 3 markers, two beyond the swell, and one on the beach. A race may consist of three loops for men and two for women, depending on conditions and the course.
Triple Sprint Pursuit
Description: Two conventional Ironman races with the combined points totals to determine handicap starting positions in a third race. The result of the third race determines the round placings. Introduced in Round 1 of the 2015/16 series at Coolum Beach.
Points
Since the 2011/12 series, the following points awarded for each competitor per round were as follows:
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
2017
2017/18
2018/19
2019/20
1st
20
20
20
23
100
100
100
20
2nd
17
17
17
20
98
88
88
19
3rd
15
15
15
18
96
78
78
18
4th
13
13
13
16
94
70
70
17
5th
12
12
12
15
92
64
64
16
6th
11
11
11
14
90
60
60
15
7th
10
10
10
13
88
57
57
14
8th
9
9
9
12
86
55
55
13
9th
8
8
8
11
84
54
53
12
10th
7
7
7
10
82
53
51
11
11th
6
6
6
9
81
52
49
10
12th
5
5
5
8
80
51
47
9
13th
4
4
4
7
79
50
45
8
14th
3
3
3
6
78
49
43
7
15th
2
2
2
5
77
48
41
6
16th
1
1
-
4
76
47
39
5
17th
-
-
-
3
75
46
37
4
18th
-
-
-
-
2
74
45
35
3
19th
-
-
-
-
-
73
44
33
2
20th
-
-
-
-
-
72
43
31
1
Women's series results (top five)
In the 2010/11 series, Pluimers won four of the five rounds, but her 17th-place finish in the fourth round meant she finished second in the series, six points behind series winner Courtney Hancock.
